OLD BRIDGE — Old Bridge High School (OBHS) recently joined Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), a business and education partnership between automotive dealers and aftermarket service employers and high school automotive technology schools.
The school decided to submit an application after automotive teacher Stephen Pasqua saw a kiosk set up at the career fair at the New York Car Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, according to information provided by the Old Bridge School District.
Upon acceptance by the organization, a representative from AYES visited OBHS to examine the facilities and provide the automotive teachers with on-site training to begin a tracking process of students enrolled in automotive courses.
Through AYES, OBHS students will be invited to pursue AYES student qualifications. In addition to taking academic courses toward their high school degrees, the teens will take courses in basic automotive technology, collision repair and refinishing or diesel technology.
According to the AYES website, the goal of the AYES model is a 320-hour internship opportunity, which can take place during the summer between junior and senior years. During this internship, the student will work with a trained and qualified mentor, which is usually an ASE-certified master technician, to help prepare the teen for an entry-level career position or advanced studies in automotive technology, the website explained.
ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, is a nonprofit organization which works to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.
“Our membership is beneficial because the manufacturers are getting more involved in the students’ educational progress,” Pasqua said. “We are very excited because the manufacturers now will provide donations to us through our AYES-certified program.”
